Saturday, August 25, 2012

The earliest Earthquake detecting device (seismoscope)

The earliest Earthquake detecting device (seismoscope) was invented by the Chinese philosopher Chang Heng
in A.D. 132. It was a large urn on the outside of which were eight dragon
heads facing the eight principal directions of the compass. Below each
dragon head was a toad with its mouth opened toward the dragon.When an earthquake occurred, one or more of the eight dragon-mouths would release a ball into the open
mouth of the toad sitting below. The direction of the shaking determined which of the dragons released its ball.

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